In this evocative, sound rich, audio essay, writer Lou Cornum and Signal Hill producers bring to life the synchronicity and deep parallels of two historic US events that happened within days of each other—the landing of men on the moon, and the occupation of Alcatraz by Native American activists. 

“Images of these two landings were beamed into living rooms across the continent and the globe,” writes Lou Cornum. The story interweaves historical facts and analysis with archival voices and sounds from the time — broadcasts from Radio Free Alcatraz, voices from Apollo moon landings, news reports, and oral histories done during the 19-month occupation of Alcatraz. The story delves into issues of ownership and exploration of land and celestial bodies, invasion, conquest, treaties, the power and right to protest.  

On Another Rock was written and reported by Lou Cornum, a writer, NYU professor, and enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. It was produced and sound designed by Jackson Roach, with help from Lou, and edited by Jackson Roach and Annie Rosenthal. Additional editorial support from Liza Yeager, Omar Etman, Lio Wong, and the Issue Three cohort. Music in this story is from Blue Dot Sessions. Fact-checking and research assistance by Sydney Chan. Additional thanks to Madeline Bank.  

Oral history interviews with Dr. LaNada War Jack, Eloy Martinez, Geneva Seaboy, and Jonny Bearcub are from the Oral History Collections of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Recordings of broadcasts from Radio Free Alcatraz are held by the Pacifica Radio Archive. Archival news footage came from the Bay Area Television Archive and elsewhere.

The Kitchen Sisters Present is produced by The Kitchen Sisters with Nathan Dalton and Brandi Howell. We are part of Radiotopia from PRX, a curated podcast network of independent producer.